CBI – NI Business Alliance calls for government to support salaries

Government should consider introducing a scheme that subsidises the salaries of workers under threat of redundancy due to the COVID-19 crisis, the leaders of four leading business membership organisations in Northern Ireland have said.

The call was made by the Business Alliance, a partnership between the Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland (CBI NI), and the Centre for Competitiveness, the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI), the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In a joint statement, supported by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the leaders of the business bodies yesterday said:

“We have already seen a number of high-profile redundancies this week as companies grapple to maintain operations through the COVID-19 crisis.

“The number one asset for any business is their employees and support staff. These must be protected.

“In partnership with ICTU, we believe that a short term working scheme similar to those announced by the Danish government to provide a salary subsidy of up to 75 per cent for any employee at risk of redundancy must now be explored by the government.

“This should be facilitated by the setting up of a high-level labour market group designed to protect workers over the coming weeks and months.

“Similar schemes were used in many European countries during the 2008 financial crisis and proved effective.

“Businesses and employees need protection now to safeguard jobs and protect livelihoods.

“By acting decisively and promptly while we still have the opportunity to protect jobs, businesses can be afforded the flexibility required to help the economy revert back to normal following the COVID-19 crisis.”

Earlier this week, the Business Alliance set up a COBRA-style committee aimed at providing guidance to organisations in response to the coronavirus outbreak and to act as a conduit to government.